YEREVAN. - Marguerite Barankitse from Maison Shalom and REMA Hospital in Burundi was named as the Laureate of the Aurora Prize Sunday. Aurora Prize Selection Committee Co-Chair, famous actor George Clooney handed her the award.

Barankitse was recognized for the extraordinary impact she has had on saving thousands of lives and caring for orphans and refugees during the years of civil war in Burundi.  

The 100 LIVES and Aurora Prize initiative co-founders Vartan Gregorian, Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan made addresses during the ceremony.  

The Armenian opera singer Hasmik Papian and Washington Post columnist and writer David Ignatius hosted the event. 

The Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II also attended the event.

The 100 LIVES and the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity recognize people who have risked their lives to help others, including for helping Armenians after the Genocide in 1915.

The Aurora Prize had four finalists this year. They were Marguerite Barankitse, Dr. Tom Catena, Syeda Ghulam Fatima from Pakistan and Father Bernard Kinvi from the Central African Republic. 

On behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity will be granted annually to an individual whose actions have had an exceptional impact on preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes.